Title: 'When Another Makes You Suffer'

Visual Prayer Art -  From Crystal Light Collection by Rev.Bola A

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted,  forgiving one another, even as God for  Christ's sake hath forgiven you. When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment, he needs help.  ~ Thich Naht Hanh --  Do You have someone in your life who is making life miserable for you? Do you have someone who is making things more difficult than they need to be? How do you react to hurtful words and actions by others? What are some practical and Godly things you can to:  1.Protect yourself     2. Set healthy boundaries     3.Diffuse the situation?

One of the things I have found to work in these kind of situations is prayer and meditation. I always acknowledge and never suppress my natural inclination to retaliate. I acknowledge that I am human, that I have emotions like anger, indignation, grief, sadness, fear...etc... When someone violates my boundaries, I acknowledge that as a human-being it's natural for me to feel these things. What is important to me and to God, is that I don't act out of these feelings in retaliation. So how do I process them? I use my journal. CIR membership provides a great journalling tool. I write about my feelings. I may write a letter to the person, a poem, or even a vent. But I don't post it. Usually when I acknowledge my feelings in this way I calm down. Once in that calm state, I am able to pray, and focus on what is right. I pray both for myself and for the other person. I ask God to deliver our relationship from the negative grip of Satan. Notice, I said I am not just praying for myself. I am praying for OUR relationship in the spiritual and also in the physical realm. I am asking for Jesus to intercede and remove Satan's influence from my relationship with the other person. I then pray for myself, and ask God to help me grow stronger and more loving in Him. I ask for an anointing from The Holy Spirit, to intercede on my behalf in this and all my relationships. Next I pray for that person, and ask God to heal them from all unrighteousness, and be restored to their true nature in Christ. I then close with thanks giving for all those relationships in my life that are working well. (I often find that many are, which I might be taking for granted.) Usually by this time, something has shifted in the Spiritual realm for the better. I often notice also that in the material realm, the next time I am in touch with that person, things are better. But even if that person has not changed, I have. Thank God. Peace Rev.Bola Member of Christians in Recovery Check out Christians in Recovery for more resources. **************************************